Christopher Columbus sailed for Spain in 1492 and claimed all islands around San Salvador looking for gold. Spain eventually sent Columbus back to create an Empire. America should not celebrate Columbus Day because of Columbus’ cruel punishments towards others, the way he influenced today's world, and the way he did not prove anything new. Christopher Columbus caused cruel punishment by cutting peoples hands off, making dogs attack the Native Americans, and by silencing the Native Americans. Columbus Day should not be celebrated because he influenced today's world negatively through slavery,stereotyping, and genocide. Finally, Columbus did not prove anything new because people already lived in the new world, he was not the first non-american …show more content…
For example, Columbus mutilated Native Americans. In particular, when Native Americans could not meet Columbus’ gold quotas, Columbus would allow his men to cut off their hands (source 4). Columbus should not be honored with a holiday when his actions towards others have been so disgraceful. Another cruel punishment Columbus’ enacted on the Natives was that he made dogs attack the Native Americans. In fact, Columbus urged greyhounds “...to bite naked bodies and skin” off the Native Americans, which often resulted in death” (source 2). America should not celebrate Columbus Day when his action towards others have been so vile. Additionally, Columbus cruelty included silencing Natives cries (source 1). For example, when the Natives would cry Columbus would put wooden slats over their tongues to silence them. How can America celebrate Columbus Day if Columbus was torturing the Natives in such a terrible way. Not only should Columbus Day be banned for his cruelty to natives, but it also should not be celebrated since Columbus did not actually discover anything …show more content…
For instance, he left behind a legacy of slavery. Christopher Columbus used forced labor to make people to do his tasks (source 4). This led him to start to human trafficking. Columbus would personally embolden “his men to rape Native women as young as nine or ten” (source 4). As a result, Columbus’ legacy left international slave trade as a growing problem in today’s world. America should not celebrate Columbus Day when he treated women and men so dishonorably against their wishes. Another influence is that Columbus left behind stereotyping. Columbus called Native American Indians. Columbus would grouped minorities and call them whatever he wanted, just like he did to the Native Americans. Now People refer to Native American as Indians. This creating a stereotype of Natives. We should not celebrate Columbus Day when he caused arrogance and is to blame for the bereave of Native Americans respect. Finally, the last way he negatively influenced today’s world is genocide. Columbus and the people who followed him killed so many people. Columbus motives during his voyages was to convert people to the Catholic faith. No wanted to be converted, so Columbus and his men hung the people up in rows of 13. This killing two generations (source 1). America should not celebrate Columbus day when he caused more pain than good. Not only should Columbus Day be taboo since because of the way he
In the United States, there are many holidays that are celebrated by its citizens. Some of these holidays consist of individuals taking the day off from work and school, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Day. During these days off, individuals have the chance to reflect on the day itself, and rejoice on the purpose of the holiday. Every holiday has a distinct and positive meaning towards the United States and its people, but there is one holiday in particular that is controversial in this aspect- the celebration of Christopher Columbus- Columbus Day. This controversy is JJJJJJ because even though Christopher Columbus had a big role in discovering America, he also was a terrible human being who tortured many. In my opinion, I believe that the celebration of discovering America should continue to be celebrated. Although, the holiday should be shifted from honoring Columbus, to instead celebrating the discovery of the United States of America by the indigenous people who were already settled in our land.
Christopher Columbus is a bad influence. He was a murderer, rapist, and cruel person. According to the article Why we shouldn’t celebrate Columbus Day, “Columbus didn't even treat his own men and women well. Columbus is said to had more than a dozen people whipped and shackled by the neck for purchasing meat
Columbus is a very controversial historical figure that today revolves around a Euro-centric perspective, White supremacy, and a part of the founding in today’s nation we live in. Multiple accounts have been taken during his time of his cruel legacy. Horrible descriptions of him raping women, mutilating Native bodies, enslaving who he considered his inferiors and many other atrocities are still looked over today. Not to mention the fact that he also helped to claim a nation that rightfully did not belong to the Europeans. Christopher Columbus left his dark past with us, from killing Natives, taking away the chastity of women, and enslaving the true ancient residents of this nation, all leading to him justly being
On the other hand, the natives of those islands may remember Columbus as a horrible man since he brought epidemic/diseases upon them. Columbus is considered a legend because he had discovered a whole new continent for Spain. Columbus Day is a holiday dedicated to celebrate his discovery of the Americas. It is a very controversial topic on who discovered the Americas, though. Many people believe the Vikings have prior, but Columbus is the only documented voyage to the Americas. His discovery was not the only reason behind his fame, he also sparked the age of exploration. Columbus will forever be remembered as a brave and fearless explorer, who had colonized the
When you think of Columbus what comes to mind? A hero? A villain? Most people think he is a hero, but many do not think of the things he did to people such as slavery, beatings, raping, etc. He is most known for discovering America, but he only got to the Bahamas. Columbus was an Italian explorer that sailed the ocean blue in 1492. Columbus Day should not be celebrated because of the awful things that don’t make up for the discoveries that Christopher Columbus did.
Christopher Columbus did not do a single good action in any of his four voyages in the late 1400's. Christopher Columbus was not the founder of the Americas we live in today because he did not discover it, even if he did there were already the natives who inhabited the land. It was just luck that he discovered the Americas, because he wasn’t even coming here, he got here because his ships went the wrong way and “Oh Surprise!” “We got something here to bring to Spain”
Christopher Columbus is commonly known as the “discoverer” of the Americas. From a young age students are taught all the wonderful things he did for our land and how well he interacted with the Natives. Although the truth is disregarded and as students grow, they come to learn that Columbus was not a hero in fact. Columbus came close to causing a genocide of the Native Americans, and basically began the “white power” movement that America is forced to deal with today. The truth of what Christopher Columbus did makes him no better than Hitler, yet America still praises him as an important figure in our history. The actions of Columbus has impacted all Americans lives since the 1400’s when he first landed on American soil. Although it did make America into the super power it is today, the structure within the borders will never be equal because of his abuse of power back then. Christopher Columbus is not the hero American students are taught from a young age and does not deserve any of the praise or recognition that we as American citizens continue to give him on a daily basis.
The national holiday of Columbus Day should never have become a recognized Federal holiday. Christopher Columbus did not actually discover the Americas. There were millions of indigenous people already living in the location that he was exploring. It is true he was an explorer trying to find his way to the riches of the Indies and mapping his way for Spain and Europe however, how is it a discovery when people are already living on the land? He didn't even make it to the location he was originally trying to reach. He was also a brutal man that enslaved the people living on the land he "discovered".
Some say that Columbus Day shouldn't be a holiday or that the name should be changed, I believe that we should get rid of the holiday. When you are little, you are taught Christopher Columbus discovered America and he's a good person; however, in reality, none of that is true. Columbus didn't discover America, he found some islands in the Caribbean like Haiti and Cuba. In addition, he treated the Natives there with harsh cruelties. Columbus also brought over diseases that lead to the death of many natives because they weren't exposed to measles, influenza, small pox. “Christopher Columbus introduced two phenomena that revolutionized race relations and
Columbus Day shouldn 't be a holiday anymore because all the Indians he enslaved and killed during his voyage. Columbus had made a promise to bring back slaves, gold, copper, and girls to be used for sex. According to A Patriot 's History ... about 56 million people were killed
On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus and his crew piled onto three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria on a trip funded by Ferdinand and Isabella in hopes to spread Catholicism and to find new trades routes (Histroy.com Staff 5). Even though his voyage did kickoff a whole series of risky and dangerous explorations to the Americas, the consequences of these trips were detrimental to both Columbus and the people who inhabited these lands. The destruction of the territory and the diseases that were brought over, foreign to the natives, resulted in the demise of the Native American population over time while the Europeans turned a blind eye. These actions turned Christopher Columbus from a honorable, daring explorer to the catalyst to a mass genocide of innocent, unsuspecting native peoples.
Christopher Columbus is a famous explorer that is celebrated yearly in America, with his national holiday, Columbus day. However, many people do not know all the negative things he did. America should not celebrate Columbus Day because of his negative legacy, his actions, and his lack of accomplishments. Slavery, death, and rape were all part of Columbus’ negative legacy. He had negative actions such as he brought dogs to attack people, caused Native Americans to end their lives, and cut Natives hands off.
There has been a heated discussion about changing columbus day to native peoples day. This argument for getting rid of columbus day is flawed and quite hypocritical. This group Is claiming we should get rid of columbus day due to the fact he killed and enslaved the native people of the nations he visited. Christopher columbus and his men did kill and enslave the native people but, that was normal for that time period. Also how could Christopher columbus kill so many with less than 200 men? The answer is simple, he joined the ongoing tribal warfare that was taking place at the time. The tribes there already had mass graves, slaughtered and enslaved each other. This didn’t just start when columbus came around, the aztecs were
The United States should not celebrate Columbus Day because it celebrates the mistreatment of Native Americans. One quote from the article that demonstrates this is, “a holiday called Indigenous Peoples Day will instead recognize the contributions, and suffering of Native Americans, people who lived in the Americas before Columbus arrived.” This quote demonstrates that Columbus may have improved some lives, but he destroyed others. Every year on Columbus Day, Native Americans are forced to celebrate the murder and theft of their people, lands, and homes. They should not be subject to this cruelty. Another quote that shows the mistreatment of Native Americans throughout history is, “in the 1850s, California’s leaders wanted to destroy the
Throughout many recent years, there has been a great deal of speculation about whether we should celebrate Columbus Day; whether Christopher Columbus, the man with a holiday named after him, the man who “discovered” America, was really hero. There are people who claim that Columbus was, in fact, someone to be celebrated. This is false. Christopher Columbus was, most blatantly put, a villain. He deserves this status because he did not discover the land now known as America, he forced his beliefs onto others, and he utterly destroyed the lives of unknowing, innocent people.